Orthodox Group Establishes Rabbinical Court on Family Problems

The Rabbinical Council of America, an Orthodox rabbinical organization, today announced the establishment of a Beth Din, a rabbinical court, to give guidance to Jews in the field of marriage and family problems regardless of synagogue affiliation. The Beth Din will function largely in advance of civil authorities. It will seek to preserve marriage ties. It will also act as arbitrator up to the point where courts take over.

The court will be under the direction of the religious law commission of the RCA, which is headed by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik of Boston, Mass., and by Dr. Samuel Belkin, president of Yeshivah University. Rabbi Emanual Backman will preside at the Beth Din to which local rabbis will refer couples for consultation on their family problems.